Anantnag: The opening of Kartarpur corridor for Sikhs has encouraged the Kashmiri Pandit community to see a possibility of the pilgrimage to Sharada Peeth. Kashmir pandits, living as migrants in different parts of the country, are now batting for the opening of Sharada Peeth pilgrimage in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for the community.
In Anantnag, pandits who have not left the Valley took out a protest march for the opening of a passage for devotees to visit Sharada Devi temple in PoK.

Kashmiri pandits, for quite some time now, have been demanding that they should be allowed to visit the Sharada Peeth.

The Chief Minister’s remarks at the event won him friends cutting across party lines with BJP leader RP Singh welcoming his speech.

Ramesh Kitchloo, President of Brahmin Organisation of Indian, told Mirror that Mata Sharada Devi Peeth was an ancient centre of learning between the 6th and 12th century. It was once considered as one of the top centres of higher learning in the Indian subcontinent. Renowned scholars like Kalhana, Adi Shankara, Vairotsana and Kumarajiva visited this peeth.

“We have been asking for it from the last 40 years. Every Hindu want to visit this peeth in PoK,” he said.
He asked when the Sikhs can visit their shrine in Pakistan, why can’t the Hindus visit Sharada Peeth in the neibourghing country.

Ex-Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti believes that Kartarpur Corridor could be a game changer in volatile relations between India and Pakistan. She hopes that PM Narendra Modi will now discuss building a similar corridor to Sharda Peeth in PoK.

APMCC chief, Vinood Pandita, who had started fasting until death for 15 days at Sudama chowk in Port city of Porbander Gujarat in 2013, said a corridor to Sharada Devi Temple too can be built across the two sides of the LoC between Tweetwal and Sharada, which are just a few kilometers apart.

Khan went on to suggest that Sidhu was so popular in Pakistan’s Punjab that he could easily win elections there.

“After the fourth day of his protest, the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi (now Prime Minister of India) sent his minister Baba bhai Bhokadia to persuade Vinod to end his fast. After 15 days, the J&K government appealed to Vinod to end his fast in writing and ceased all the issues. This letter was sent through the district collector Porbander,” he added.

“Whenever we demand for it, the government had always stated that things are not good. Please tell us why politics for us only, when situation is good for Line of Control (LoC) trade between the two countries? Then why not for this,” he said.

He further added, “We want to visit our temple on permit, but please allow us.”

Sharada Peeth is situated about 150 kilometres from Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK. The temple now lies in ruins. Located in the remote village of Sharada in Neelam Valley, which is one of the most sensitive areas in the vicinity of the LoC, authorities from PoK have always remained wary of allowing Indians to visit the iconic temple.

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